Louis Vuitton Date Code Authenticator

We made this Louis Vuitton date code tool with our community in mind. Because every vintage bag deserves a little extra love and certainty. Pop in your date code below and feel that much more confident in your find.

How to Read a Louis Vuitton Date Code: Find Your Bag's Production Date

Wondering when and where your Louis Vuitton bag was made? The date code on the leather tab makes it easy to find out. Enter the code above and instantly see the production period and likely country of origin.

What is a Louis Vuitton date code?

A Louis Vuitton date code (sometimes incorrectly called a “serial number”) is a combination of letters and numbers that Louis Vuitton has been stamping on its products since the early 1980s. The code indicates which factory and time period a bag or accessory was made in. It’s not a unique identifier per item, but it is an important part of the authentication process for vintage and pre-loved Louis Vuitton pieces.

Where do you find the date code?

The code is usually tucked away on a small leather tab inside the bag — in a zipped pocket, under a D-ring, or stamped directly into the lining. The exact location varies by model: on a Speedy you’ll often find it in the interior pocket, while on a Neverfull it’s typically under the flap.

How does the date code work?

The format has changed several times over the decades:

Before 1982: no date code present.
Early 1980s: 3 or 4 digits, where the first two indicate the year and the rest the month.
Mid to late 1980s: digits followed by 2 letters (factory code).
1990–2006: 2 letters followed by 4 digits, where the 1st and 3rd digit indicate the month, and the 2nd and 4th the year.
2007 to early 2021: same structure, but now representing the week number instead of the month.
From March 2021: Louis Vuitton switched to hidden microchips, date codes are no longer used.

Does a valid date code mean my bag is authentic?

No — and this is a common misconception. A correct date code is a good sign, but not a guarantee. Counterfeiters regularly replicate date codes accurately. That’s why at Get Your Designer Bag we check more than just the date code — stitching, hardware, materials, and other authentication markers are all reviewed before a bag appears in our weekly drop.

How to read the code

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The first two letters indicate the factory where the item was made. Some codes are used in more than one country — always cross-check with the “Made in” stamp inside your item to be sure.

Full code list

Code	Country	Note

Shop vintage Louis Vuitton at Get Your Designer Bag

Every week, Get Your Designer Bag releases a new selection of authenticated, pre-owned Louis Vuitton bags — from classic Speedys to rare vintage pieces. Curious about your bag’s history? Use the tool above, or get in touch if you need help locating the code.